Death Row Fugitive Recaptured After Months on the Run

A man sentenced to death who escaped from Kashimpur High Security Central Prison during a period of unrest has been recaptured by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) following a targeted intelligence-led operation in Gazipur. Authorities described the arrest as part of an ongoing nationwide effort to locate and detain inmates who fled the prison amid the security breakdown.

According to RAB-1, the operation was carried out on Sunday night in the Kodda Bazar area under Basan Police Station in Gazipur. During the raid, officers arrested 54-year-old Lukimuddin, also known as Lokman, a convicted murderer who had been sentenced to death. The elite force confirmed the arrest in a brief statement issued on Monday.

RAB officials said Lokman had remained in hiding since escaping from Kashimpur High Security Central Prison on 6 August, when widespread instability surrounding the fall of the government created a volatile security situation at the correctional facility. During the unrest, prison authorities lost control as numerous inmates unlawfully fled the prison. Officials also reported incidents of attacks on prison facilities, vandalism and looting during the disturbance, compounding the challenges faced by law enforcement agencies in restoring order.

Following the incident, the prison’s jail superintendent, Lutfor Rahman, filed a criminal case in connection with the prison break and the violence that accompanied it. The investigation was launched immediately, with RAB-1, its specialised units and the operational team based at the Porabari Camp in Gazipur conducting a coordinated intelligence operation to identify and track the escaped inmates.

Investigators gathered intelligence from multiple sources, monitored the movements of suspected fugitives and analysed potential hideouts before carrying out targeted operations. RAB said these sustained surveillance efforts eventually led officers to Lokman’s location, enabling his arrest without incident.

The law enforcement agency stated that Lokman is listed as the 80th accused in the case filed over the prison escape. Before fleeing custody, he had been serving a death sentence in connection with a murder conviction. Since escaping the prison, he had allegedly remained in concealment to evade arrest.

After being detained, Lokman was handed over to Konabari Police Station in Gazipur to complete the necessary legal formalities. Authorities said all proceedings related to the prison break case, along with any other applicable legal matters, would continue in accordance with the country’s existing laws and judicial procedures.

RAB emphasised that operations to apprehend the remaining escaped inmates are continuing. Intelligence surveillance has been strengthened, while additional raids are being conducted in different parts of the country to ensure that no fugitive remains beyond the reach of the law. Officials reiterated that locating and re-arresting all escaped prisoners remains a priority for law enforcement agencies.

The latest arrest follows another successful operation conducted last Wednesday, when RAB captured three other death row convicts who had also escaped from Kashimpur Central Prison during the same period of unrest. With Lokman’s recapture, authorities believe they have made further progress in their continuing campaign to return escaped convicted offenders to custody and uphold the integrity of the criminal justice system.